Operation Chrome Dome

Main article: Cold War

1964 Operation Chrome Dome Map from Sheppard Air Force Base, TX

1966 overview of Operation Chrome Dome related or derivative flights

Operation Chrome Dome was one of several United States Air Force Cold-War era airborne global alert duties or programs in which B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber aircraft armed with thermonuclear weapons were assigned targets in the Soviet Union on schedules guaranteeing that a substantial number of them were flying and fueled for their missions at any given time.

Background

During the Cold War, B-52s performed airborne alert duty under code names such as Head Start, Chrome Dome, Hard Head, Round Robin^[1], and Operation Giant Lance. Bombers loitered near points outside the Soviet Union to provide rapid first strike or retaliation capability in case of nuclear war.^{[2] [3]}

Primary mission

A B-52D would leave Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas and fly across the United States to New England and head out to the Atlantic Ocean. The B-52 would refuel over the Atlantic heading north to and around Newfoundland. The bomber would change course and fly northwesterly over Baffin Bay towards Thule Air Base, Greenland. At this point it would fly west across Queen Elizabeth Islands of Canada. Continuing to Alaska, it would refuel over the Pacific Ocean again heading south-east and return to Sheppard AFB.^[4]

Military units

B-52 Airborne Nuclear Alert route from Homestead AFB, FL to Italy

The following military units were involved:

• Strategic Air Command Divisions:
  • 494th Bombardment Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base
  • 821st Strategic Aerospace Division
  • 822d Air Division
• 306th Flying Training Group
• Homestead Joint Air Reserve Base
• Strategic Air Command in the United Kingdom

Accidents

The program was involved in the following nuclear-weapons accidents:

• 1961 Yuba City B-52 crash
• 1964 Savage Mountain B-52 crash^{[Notes 1]}
• 1966 Palomares B-52 crash
• 1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash

The Thule accident signaled the end of the program on January 22, 1968.

Notes

1. ^ Accident happened while the aircraft was returning to its home base, having already completed its alert mission.

References

1. ^ USAF: LakenheathAFB Libery Wing
2. ^ "SAC AIRBORNE ALERT". National Museum of the USAF. Accessed 2 October 2007
3. ^ US Nuclear Weapons Deployments Disclosed, Nautilus Institute
   History of the Custody and Deployment of Nuclear Weapons: July 1945 to September 1977
4. ^ Nautilus.org: Chrome Dome Route Map

External links

• SAC'S Deadly Daily Dozen at Time Magazine